How old could you have been?
Seventeen, nineteen?
You wrote that to me, but I can't remember.
You hesitate, you defer, you wait
and the letter is lost, but you know how it goes.
You were taking a clerk A-Level,
a cheap A-Level1
in a garbage can college,
the usual opening
of blocked-up horizons.
Your question was: "should I despair?"
How old could you have been?
Seventeen, nineteen?
You had a first name, but I can't remember.
I should have, I could have, no doubt
written back a dozen lines, but I didn't. That's it.
I was no matter where
stuck to the neck
in personal matters,
this eternal anguish
of maddening decline.
This was before summer.
You had decided
to visit France,
prefering to let
fate guide your steps.
Your question was: "should I despair?"
How old could you have been?
Seventeen, nineteen?
You wrote that to me, but I can't remember.
I should have, I could have, no doubt
but I don't even have time
to take care of myself.
1. up to the 80's, the French Baccalauréat was offering "good" options from A(litterature), B(economy), C(maths/physics), D(biology) and E(engineering). Then came the "bad" options, including "G" which gave little possibilities except becoming a lowly clerk or typist